Queen’s Birthday honours for Macedon Ranges champions

THE commitment to community in the Macedon Ranges was highlighted in today’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Michael Garnett has praised the Macedon Ranges community after his Queen’s Birthday honour. Picture: Dennis Manktelow

LONG-TIME Romsey resident Michael Garnett has added a membership to the Order of Australia to his huge list of achievements.

The ex-serviceman, former Australian Davis Cup tennis member and local historian received the Queen’s Birthday honour for his services to veterans, Australian tennis and to the Macedon Ranges community.

Mr Garnett said his award was a testament to the spirit of the Macedon Ranges and the many community service groups who help its people.

“I am honoured to receive this award which really belongs to all those who assisted with these community projects,” he said.

“The Macedon Ranges is a great place to contribute to community affairs, because each town has its own distinctive and historic identity. It makes ‘community involvement’ a pleasure to do.”

Mr Garnett, who served in the air force in Malaya in the ’50s, has been a committee member of the Kyneton RSL sub-branch since 2012. The 77-year-old has worked hard to ensure the welfare of veterans, maintain memorials and monuments, educate the community on its military history and continue to celebrate the memory of Macedon Ranges Mounted Rifle Corps and Light Horsemen volunteers of the 1800s.

Mr Garnett helped create the Kyneton Light Horse Memorial, the Romsey War Memorial commemorative rose garden and Romsey town fountain.

He said he would never give up on his commitment to establish a memorial in Romsey for those who served in the Great War.

“You win some and you lose some and my efforts to establish a memorial in Romsey for those who served in the Great War was not supported by the local councillors,” he said.

“This was not only a loss to those who served, but to those still living.

“They have every reason to feel let down by those representing them.”

Mr Garnett was awarded the Australian Sports Medal by the Federal Government in 2001 for “outstanding services to the sport of royal tennis” following his involvement with the Australian Davis Cup Tennis Foundation, The Royal Melbourne Tennis Club and Romsey Tennis Club.

After being diagnosed with lymphoma in 2003, Mr Garnett and his family walked the Sandakan Death March in North Borneo and raised more than $15,000 for the Romsey Medical Centre in recognition of their care.

Phyllis Boyd has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her services to the heritage preservation of Gisborne and Mount Macedon. Picture: David Smith

PHYLLIS BOYD

A FASCINATION with family history has paved the way for Gisborne’s Phyllis Boyd to devote her time to the preservation of the region’s history.

On Monday, Mrs Boyd was awarded the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday honours for her contribution to preservation of the Macedon Ranges history and tourism.

“This has come as an absolute surprise to be me,” Mrs Boyd said.

“I don’t do it for the accolades but I have and will continue to do it because I love working for the community.”

The 78-year-old has overseen the amalgamation of the region’s historical societies, which joined forces in 1992 to become the Gisborne and Mount Macedon Historical Society. When president, the historical society was instrumental in restoration of the Gisborne Court House in Hamilton St, which is now home to the town’s historical tourist precinct.

Mrs Boyd has also been involved in the Gisborne Regional Events Activities and Tourism Association (GREAT) which runs the Gisborne Old time Market and has raised more than $600,000 for the community since 2002.

She said while she had rolled back her involvement, she was still devoted to ensuring the preservation of history.

“I was researching my family side by side with my husband and that got me really interested in family history,” Mrs Boyd said.

“I just found I was really interested in local families and their history.

“I want to thank my husband Ian who has worked alongside me on all these projects.”

OTHERS HONOURED

THREE more residents from the Macedon Ranges were featured in the Queen’s Birthday 2016 Honours List.

South Kyneton’s Mario Sartori was awarded the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia for his service to the community of Trentham, which includes co-founding the East Trentham Fellowship and supporting the Trentham CFA; Tylden CFA; Trentham Neighbourhood Centre; Trentham and District Football/Netball Club; Spudfest, Lyonville Woodchop and the Trentham Easter Art and Craft Show.

Mount Macedon resident John Wauchope was awarded the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia for his service to the insurance industry and to the community.

Kyneton group officer John Pearce, a member for more than 40 years, was awarded an Australian Fire Service Medal for his work.